Healthy Lunch Box Ideas
A healthy lunchbox will provide children with the energy and nutrients they need to help them learn and concentrate. Variety, freshness and taste are the three key ingredients to ensure your child’s lunchbox returns empty at the end of the school day.
A healthy lunch box should include:
- Fruit and vegetables
- Dairy
- A source of protein
- A source of starch
- Water
Healthy alternatives
- Fruit - fresh, dried or tinned
- Vegetables - vegetable sticks with dip or a small container of mixed vegetables
- Dairy - milk, fruit/ natural yoghurt, cheese sticks
- Muffins - homemade with fruit and vegetables e.g. sultanas, carrot, pumpkin, banana
- Homemade pikelets
- Plain popcorn
- Sandwiches - include a variety of breads (wholemeal, white, rolls, rice cakes, bagels, pita bread) and fillings (egg, tuna, ham, chicken, cheese, tomato, grated carrot, lettuce, cucumber, avocado, peanut butter)
- Tinned tuna
- Fruit bread
- Mixed nuts
- Water
Foods to avoid
- Muesli and chocolate bars
- Potato chips and oven-baked savoury biscuits
- Sweet drinks such as cordial and soft drinks
- Lollies
- Honey and jam
- Donuts and cakes
- Fatty meats such as salami
Other tips
- Let the child choose the lunch box
- Include a variety of food
- Restrict processed foods such as lollies, chocolate and potato chips
- Get children involved. Let them help with the shopping and help pack their lunch box
- Keep the food cold - use an insulated lunchbox or put a freezer pack in. A frozen drink bottle is another option.
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P: (08) 9473 8400
F: (08) 9472 7522
E: brodie.hall@ymca.org.au
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